December 19, 2008 -
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group (Blackfoot) employees purchased $2500 worth of holiday gifts for over eighty Missoula children in need through the Mountain of Giving campaign. Each year the annual drive collects thousands of toys but struggles to provide enough holiday presents for older children living in Missoula.

December 09, 2008 - Blackfoot
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group (Blackfoot) announces the launch of the Blackfoot Customer Advisory Council (CAC) comprised of Missoula business owners. The CAC will provide guidance to Blackfoot.s development and marketing teams by sharing their buying and usage experiences, as well as their talents as successful business owners and managers.

November 06, 2008 -
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group today announced their plans to double contributions to Missoula and five Western Montana Food Banks in light of record breaking food shortages in the communities they serve. While demand for food is increasing, area food banks are seeing food supplies and cash donations drastically decreasing. ...

August 19, 2008 - Missoula,MT
Bill Teague received the Montana Telecommunications Association’s (MTA) Lifetime Achievement Award for his 25 years of service on the Board of Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative (Blackfoot), and for his contributions to the telecommunications industry locally and statewide...

June 06, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Several Western Montana high school seniors have reason to celebrate. Recently, Blackfoot Telecommunications Group mailed out over 30 congratulatory letters to recipients of the 2008 Blackfoot Scholarships. After considering over 50 applications from high school seniors throughout the Blackfoot service areas, trustees chose the winners, judged to be some of the more outstanding students in western Montana...

May 08, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group held their annual meeting on Saturday, May 3, where Blackfoot Chief Executive Officer Joan Mandeville discussed the company’s plans to drive continued long-term growth, increasing the value to our member-owners. In the cooperative, each customer has an ownership interest and Mandeville expressed the strong commitment that Blackfoot has to building upon its past success on their behalf. Mandeville highlighted the positive customer momentum behind the company’s offering of bundled services for business and residential customers, noting the strong response to high-speed internet and affordability...

May 08, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group will again sponsor an educational trip to Washington, D.C. for two students, May 31 – June 4, 2008 to attend the fourteenth annual Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Youth Tour. Adam Ness of Potomac, Montana and Lindsey Franz of Heron, Montana were selected to attend this year. The youth tour will introduce the telecommunications industry to students from rural America within a legislative context. Aside from the educational aspects of this trip, students will also have the opportunity to tour many of the historical sites in the nation’s capital...

May 07, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group announced a $500.00 cash winner from St. Ignatius at their Annual Meeting in Missoula Montana on Saturday, May 3 in front of 500 member-owners. Blackfoot also gave away over $4000 in cash, prizes, and raffle drawings that included an exclusive weather station gift. The large raffle took place with over 300 names entered into the drawing. Two of the youngest people in attendance, John Anthony and Airiana Henry of Arlee drew St. Ignatius resident Inez Pounds as the top prize winner of $500.00 ...

May 06, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group announced the launch of an exciting new business package at their Annual Shareholders Meeting on Saturday, May 3 in front of 500 member-owners in Missoula, Montana. The business package appropriately named BizBundles is designed to fit the needs of Blackfoot’s rural business owners located in 22 Western Montana communities with affordable long distance service-- great phone features-- and up to 15 Mbps of high speed Internet...

April 15, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative recently returned more than $1 million to their Cooperative owner members as part of their 2007 distribution of Capital Credit checks. Capital Credits are ownership accounts created by allocating the difference between Blackfoot’s operating costs and revenue to members. Because Blackfoot is a non-profit Cooperative, it returns revenues left over after expenses to customers who buy services from the company as members...

February 28, 2008 - Missoula, MT
According to the Rural School and Community Trust, more people live in rural America now than did in 1950. In Missoula most residents have family and friends that live in rural communities, but have no idea that some schools in the outlying areas are without computers, televisions, hard drives, software, and printers. The reality is that rural communities in Montana are behind the national average in their ability to navigate the technological “superhighway” simply because they have not been afforded access to current equipment...

February 21, 2008 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group (Blackfoot) is proud to announce the two-year anniversary of employee Paula Hogan. Paula came to Blackfoot through Opportunity Resources affiliate program, EmployAbilities. In November 2005, Blackfoot contacted EmployAbilities regarding a new mail service position they created, and wanted to hire a person with a disability to perform these duties. EmployAbilities, the division of Opportunity Resources that locates employment for job seekers with disabilities, was excited about the possibility to partner with a local business. Through this process EmployAbilities could help Blackfoot fill an employment need, and find a good job for one of their job seekers. EmployAbilities found two candidates and after the interview process was completed, Blackfoot offered employment to Paula Hogan...

February 06, 2008 - Missoula, MT
The Clinton Community Playground Project (“Cougar Kingdom”) originated as a vision to provide safe recreational opportunities for children from Bonner to Beavertail and to bring the community together for a common purpose. This one-year community project will culminate September 24-28, 2008 with hundreds of local residents volunteering to build a one-of-a-kind playground on the Clinton Elementary School grounds. As a dedicated community park, it will be something that will be enjoyed by the community for generations. Cougar Kingdom was designed by the students of Clinton Elementary and will reflect the community’s rich heritage in both design and artistic elements...

December 21, 2007 - Missoula, MT
Willie Jo Ogden from Seeley Lake, MT wins $10,000 at MyMontana.com. On Thursday, December 20, 2007, Jo was randomly selected from thousands of registrants at the MyMontana site...

October 07, 2007 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group launches www. MyMontana.com—Montana’s one-stop destination site for all Montana’s news, entertainment and commentary-- with a $10,000 contest to Montana residents who register at the site between October 15 and December 19, 2007...

December 22, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group announced Thursday its acquisition of Internet Connect Services (ICS), a 12-year-old, Missoula-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) that has been struggling through reorganization...

November 22, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group received top honors as the Large Private Employer of the Year at Montana’s annual Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Safety, held in September in West Yellowstone, Montana ...

October 20, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative’s Board of Trustees donated $10,000 to the Seeley Swan Medical Center earlier this month to aid the clinic’s expansion efforts. The donation will pay off the purchase price of the land needed for the clinic expansion. Future development plans include an independent/assisted living facility, expanded family practice facilities, physical therapy, optometry, dentistry and chiropractic providers and possibly a pharmacy and ambulance facility...

September 21, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group announced Thursday its new partnership with Eagle Satellite - an independent reseller of DISH Network. The collaboration is a significant business move that enhances Blackfoot and Eagle Satellite service offerings...

May 29, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group raised several hundred dollars in cash donations and used tools for the Missoula Urban Development Project tool library. More than $2,000 in tools and equipment were taken from the MUD tool library April 11. The library is a community resource located on Missoula’s Northside and operates a tool-lending program and host seminars and demonstrations for green building, gardening, woodworking and more...

May 18, 2006 - Missoula, MT

May 12, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative is proud to add a $1000 contribution to the funds donated by other members and businesses in the Seeley Lake area toward the building of the Eagle’s Nest Playground at Seeley Lake Elementary School. "We enjoy being a part of these the types of projects in support of our members and their communities," said board member Cindy Lewis. One of many pieces of play equipment requested by the children who designed the project is a "telephone system". The donation from Blackfoot will be used to purchase this as well as other construction materials...

April 27, 2006 - Missoula, MT

April 20, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative is pleased to announce long-time Seeley Lake resident, Cindy Lewis, will serve out the remainder of Joe Nagy\'s term as Trustee of District 1. Born in Missoula, as a young child Cindy moved to Seeley Lake where she and Dick, her husband of 31 years, raised their two daughters, Wendy and Brandy, who currently attend college in Missoula...

April 19, 2006 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, Inc. rolled out its fresh, cutting-edge new web site to the public Wednesday. The site is located at www.blackfoot.com, and boasts a new, user-friendly design that captures Blackfoot’s commitment to customer service and dedication as a leading technology company in Montana. “We welcome the launch of this new website. It is a resource that gives our customers the opportunity to access product information and receive immediate support,” said Blackfoot’s CEO, Joan Mandeville...

March 24, 2006 - Missoula, MT
After more than 30 years of service, Joe Nagy recently retired from the Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative board of trustees. As the District 1 trustee since 1973, Joe represented the exchanges of Seeley Lake and Condon. During his tenure Joe displayed an unwavering belief in the cooperative spirit as he helped guide Blackfoot through three decades of growth and success...

August 31, 2005 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Communications of Missoula announced today that it has completed the sale of its mobile wireless communications businesses to MTPCS, LLC. MTPCS, headquartered in Great Falls, will maintain a significant operations center in Montana, and has extensive plans to reveal a new brand, calling plans, and network expansion in the near future. Until then, local operations will continue under the Blackfoot Communications name, with all retail employees and store operations already transferred to MTPCS. MTPCS simultaneously completed its purchase of the mobile wireless business of 3 Rivers Communications in Great Falls...

December 27, 2004 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, Vision Net, METNET, members of the Montana Healthcare Telecommunications Alliance, the Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network (EMTN) at Deaconess Billings Clinic, Partners in Health Telemedicine Network (PHTN) at St. Vincent Healthcare, REACH Telemedicine Network, and the Montana District Courts have joined the “Freedom Calls Network” to offer free videoconferencing to Montana families and their military family member(s) deployed overseas...

September 28, 2004 - Missoula, MT
On September 29, 2004, the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative extended area calling proposal. Extended Area Service (EAS) is a service enhancement which expands a customer’s local calling area. The Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative EAS proposal adds all Blackfoot exchanges to the existing Missoula EAS except for Avon which will be added to the Helena EAS region...

August 01, 2004 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group recently announced they have selected Occam Networks Inc.’s BLC 6000 platform, a complete loop carrier system that uses Ethernet and Internet Protocol (IP) as core transport and service protocols, to deliver voice, video and high-speed data services to residential and business subscribers. Occam Networks Inc. is a supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies worldwide. Blackfoot will deploy the BLC 6000s over a three-year period as they evolve their existing SONET network to an all IP services transport network...

February 01, 2004 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative will once again send two local high school juniors to Washington D.C. The 10th Annual Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour is just around the corner and Blackfoot will send two students to represent Western Montana. Students will gain a first-hand look at the telecommunications industry, and the legislative and governmental processes by visiting Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and other government agencies. Participants will also tour famous landmarks such as the Washington Monument, Smithsonian Institution, Lincoln Memorial, US Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Washington Cathedral and the Supreme Court. Lots of fun is also planned since there are one-hundred students attending from across the country...

October 01, 2003 - Missoula, MT
Speech Technology Magazine (STM) recently recognized companies using creative speech-service applications. STM recognized solutions that have impacted organizations in ways that are innovative and unique. These solutions are changing the way companies do business and proving that speech will play a major role in enhancing a company\'s customer service, marketing and sales strategies. From a speech-enabled automated banking machine to a customer service portal to corporate dialing systems, these solutions are empowering organizations in innovative ways. Many of these companies discussed their thoughts about using speech solutions in New York City, NY this fall. Award recipients include: Blackfoot Telephone, AT&T Automated Help Desk, Ford, Microsoft, BBC Technology, Bell Canada, Cellcom, CIBC, Davey Tree, Domino’s Pizza, Dymo, Lloyds TSB, Mashreqbank, Property24, Ramapo Radiology Associates, Rogers AT&T Wireless, Samsung, SingPost, Thrifty Rent-A-Car, Ticketmaster, Time Customer Service.

December 18, 2002 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative and Blackfoot CFT will become one combined telephone cooperative. As you may know, Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative has been your telephone cooperative and local telephone service provider since 1954. Now, the customers that joined Blackfoot in the subsidiary Blackfoot CFT, just a mere eight years ago, will also benefit from cooperative ownership. Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative takes pride in providing quality service to its member/owners and indirectly enhancing the economic development of our rural service areas. By joining the two telephone companies into one cooperative, we will be able to share the strength equally among all members -- one member, one vote...

April 19, 2002 - Missoula, MT
Geoff Wilson was named as the President of the Board of Directors at the Blackfoot CFT annual meeting on April 6, 2002. Geoff has been on the board since the inception of the company in 1994. This is Mr. Wilson’s third term as president. Geoff Wilson is the Blackfoot CFT Director representing Mineral County. He and his wife Nancy have lived in Mineral County for seventeen years – seven years in St. Regis and the last ten years in Superior. Geoff is retired from the Forest Service and works on his tree farm outside of St. Regis. He currently is part of the Mineral Community Hospital Board and also the Mineral Community Hospital Foundation Board...

March 29, 2002 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone has recently transferred four Blackfoot employees from the OSP Construction Crew to become Installation and Repair Technicians in the rural areas. Blackfoot felt there was a need to have a quicker response to our customers needs and increase the ability to handle the always-increasing work volumes. The following employees will live in and work out of their assigned communities and be available to the surrounding exchanges as well...

March 29, 2002 - Missoula, MT
Blackfoot Telephone has recently transferred four Blackfoot employees from the OSP Construction Crew to become Installation and Repair Technicians in the rural areas. Blackfoot felt there was a need to have a quicker response to our customers needs and increase the ability to handle the always-increasing work volumes. The following employees will live in and work out of their assigned communities and be available to the surrounding exchanges as well...

February 15, 2002 - Missoula, MT
Electronic Educational Equipment (EEE) donated $24,000 worth of equipment to rural public schools throughout western Montana. EEE, a joint program sponsored by Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Clark Fork Telecommunications, Inc., Missoula Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Energy Partners, LLC, was formed in 1989 with the goal of the program to focus on purchasing equipment for students\' use in rural schools...

March 29, 2001 - Missoula, MT
The Board of Trustees of Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc., your local telecommunications company, announces the Annual Meeting for all members on Saturday, April 7, 2001. The meeting will be held at Valley Christian School Gymnasium, 2526 Sunset Lane (near Reserve St.) in Missoula. Registration and the Blackfoot Technology Fair will begin at 9 a.m., and the Business Meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. The Technology Fair will include demonstrations of high-speed DSL Internet access, fiber optic cable fusion, and digital wireless PCS. Members will be eligible for door prizes including cash and electronic equipment...